The Chhattisgarh Government is constantly making efforts to improve the student-teacher ratio besides enhancing the educational facilities in State. As a result of these efforts, student-teacher ratio in schools of Chhattisgarh has reached close to the national average of 25 students per teacher.
This ratio in primary schools of the State is around 23 students per teacher and in middle schools, it is 24 students per teacher. likewise, the State also has 83 per cent of the children enrolled in Government schools. School Education Minister Kedar Kashyap stated that the current year has been observed as ‘Education Quality Year’ in State.
Meanwhile, rationalisation scheme was implemented in the State to increase the number of teachers. He mentioned about the report of social service organisation ‘Asar’ while saying that State Government has been taking continuous measures to reduce the student-teacher ratio in the State so as to ensure sufficient number of teachers in schools as per the national average.
Effective steps have been taken to enhance infrastructure of schools. Kashyap said that in 2010, only 79 per cent schools in State had their own offices, store-rooms or office-cum-storerooms. In 2014, this figure has improved to 82.3 per cent.
likewise, in 2010, only 45 per cent of the schools had the facility of playground. But by 2014, this figure has increased to 64.2 per cent. He further stated that as per the survey, number of schools equipped with boundary walls has increased from 48.8 per cent to 60.8 per cent in last four years.
In the same period of time, the State Government took up a special campaign of providing lavatory and safe drinking water facilities in schools. In this campaign, the number of schools equipped with these facilities, which was 82 per cent earlier, has increased to nearly 90 per cent at present.
Moreover, nearly 92 per cent schools have been equipped with the facility of lavatory in 2014. Earlier, this figure was only 71 per cent. For midday meal scheme, schools are being provided with kitchen facility. In 2010, only 86 per cent schools had kitchen shades. This has increased to around 93 per cent in 2014.
Incidentally, Higher Education Minister Prem Prakash Pandey last month had stated that ‘Smart Classrooms’ will be built in all Government colleges of the State. The colleges should send their budget proposals for the year 2015-16 as soon as possible, he said. He had stressed upon the need to improve the quality of education and completing the syllabus on time. Pandey stated the college authorities should ensure that their institution premises have wi-fi facility.
The Minister had also directed that the professors and assistant professors besides other employees of the Government colleges will have to remain in college from 10.30 am to 5.30 pm.
The teachers and staff of the colleges running in shifts will have to perform duty for minimum seven hours divided in shifts, he stated. A circular on duty hours was issued to the principals of all the Government colleges by the department of higher education, officials said.
The circular issued by the Secretary, Higher Education Dr Bl Agarwal stated that the government has noticed that the professors and assistant lectures besides other employees of the Government colleges do not remain present in the colleges during duty hours.
The principals, professors, assistant professors, and other Government servants should remain in their offices during the prescribed time period and perform their duties. In case the staff is found absent without granted leave or permission, it will be considered as negligence towards work and action will be taken against him or her as per rules.
Principals and all lower level staff including faculty and officials will have to sign in the attendance register. The circular also stated that biometric system for attendance should be established in all Government colleges through PPP mode.
Similarly, Pandey last month also urged the Centre to provide teachers, study material and funds to Chhattisgarh for ensuring successful implementation of choice-based credit system (CBCS).
While addressing a conference of State Education Ministers at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Pandey said that the new system will allow students to choose learning based on their interests and aptitudes, bringing in a shift in focus from traditional teacher oriented education system to student-centric education. Union Human Resources Development Minister Smriti Irani, Minister of State Upendra Kushwaha and other State education ministers were present at the conference.
Pandey said that before implementation of choice-based credit system (CBCS) and implementing a semester system there is a need to ensure that the State has appropriate number of teachers, training facility as per curriculum, new evaluation system and study materials. He asked the Centre to provide additional funds for implementing choice-based credit system (CBCS) also known as Cafeteria Approach in all educational institutes of the State and demanded inclusion of its provision under the National Higher Education Mission.
Calling it a tough challenge, the Minister sought the Centre’s assistance in opening educational institutions in remote areas, ensuring full attendance of students and teachers and providing quality education. Union Human Resources Development Minister Smriti Irani informed the conference that the Centre is planning to open residential colleges on PPP model in remote districts of the country.
Pandey informed the conference that the process of implementation of CBCS has begun in the State and Bilaspur University has included choice-based credit system from the current session.